diff --git a/lib/libmytinfo/findterm.c b/lib/libmytinfo/findterm.c
index 1fe5a9b66a98..8fc41a0c48a8 100644
--- a/lib/libmytinfo/findterm.c
+++ b/lib/libmytinfo/findterm.c
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ int len; {
 		c = getc(f);
 	}
 
-	while(isspace(*(buf-1))) {
+	while(i > 0 && isspace(*(buf-1))) {
 		buf--;
 		i--;
 	}